By Juliet Umeh

The Sustainability Professionals Institute of Nigeria, SPIN marked a significant milestone in its journey towards a more sustainable Nigeria with the induction of 64 new members at its 2024 cohort induction ceremony.

The event held in Lagos recently brought together sustainability change makers from diverse sectors. Institutional members like Access Bank, Dangote Cement, First Bank, IHS Towers, and Lotus Bank showcased their commitment to sustainability by participating in the event.

This growing network underscores the importance of collaboration in achieving a more sustainable future.

In his keynote address, Prof. Bongo Adi of the Lagos Business School while speaking on the topic titled: “The Role of Sustainability Professionals in Socioeconomic Development,” emphasized the critical role of developmental activism.

Adi urged the new inductees to become active changemakers, shaping a sustainable future for Nigeria.

Also, the SPIN’s Vice President, Ini Abimbola, emphasized SPIN’s unwavering commitment to promoting sustainability practices and urged the new inductees to embody strong leadership traits as they join this mission.

Additionally, Abimbola hinted at the institute’s pursuit of charter status, signifying a dedication to further elevating the profession.

Another speaker, Osayi Alile, presented a paper on “Positioning Social Enterprises as Key Drivers of Sustainable Development in Emerging Economies.”

His presentation underscored the need for increased knowledge and collaboration at both corporate and individual levels to achieve successful sustainability initiatives.

Director of Advocacy and Stakeholder Relations at SPIN, Ismail Omamegbe, outlined a comprehensive framework to support the newly inducted members. This framework includes: capacity building programs, professional sustainability training, development of sustainability standards for Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, creation of online learning resources and benchmarking initiatives against leading global sustainability associations.

These initiatives demonstrate SPIN’s commitment to empowering its members to become effective change agents.

With the induction of these new members, SPIN’s total membership has grown to 200, representing various cadres like Fellow, Full Member, Associate Member, and Student Member. Since its inception in 2019, SPIN has made significant strides.

These include the inclusion of eight globally recognized professionals on the Board of Trustees, a partnership with the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability (ICRS) in the United Kingdom and the successful transition from an Association to an Institute in November 2022.

The induction ceremony signifies a new chapter for SPIN. With a growing and empowered membership base, SPIN is well-positioned to continue its crucial work of promoting sustainable practices and building a more sustainable future for Nigeria and Africa.